3 Tips To Keep Your Windshield In One Piece After Suffering A Crack

Driving down the road and having an object slam into your windshield is a frightening experience, but it can be even more so if the impact puts a crack in your windshield. Obviously, you'll want to do what you can to either repair the crack or get a full windshield replacement as soon as possible. But if you can't make it to a repair shop right away, you'll have to be cautious to ensure that the crack doesn't get any worse while you are driving. Here are some tips that might help.

Don't Use the Defroster

If the crack to your windshield happens during the winter time, this could be especially troubling because you really shouldn't use your defroster if your windshield has a crack. Any direct application of heat could cause the crack to spread and when it happens, it will do so quickly. At that point, turning the defroster back off isn't going to help. If you have a crack in your windshield but also have ice on your car, invest in some of the liquid treatments that are available at any auto store that can melt ice without any help from your defroster. 

Cover It As Best You Can

Another thing that could cause a windshield crack to grow in size is if a piece of dirt gets into the affected area. To try and keep the area free of debris, get some clear masking tape and put it over the crack on the side of the windshield that is affected. Just don't overdo it because you don't want the tape to obstruct your view of the road. If it starts to rain, you may need to reapply the tape more frequently to make sure it stays on.

Get a Self Repair Kit If Possible

Before you take the vehicle in for a full replacement, it might be possible to fix the crack with a windshield repair kit that can be found at any auto parts store. Of course, if you don't know what you're doing you should probably leave even a simple repair to a professional. But if you can actually manage to fix it yourself, that is obviously the less expensive option, especially when compared with full windshield replacement.

If your windshield suffers a crack, avoid applying direct heat to the area and try to cover up the crack with clear tape to prevent debris from getting in. Then, reach out to a local windshield replacement service to discuss next steps.